How To

Apple / How To / Mac OS X — No Comments
25
Jul 11

Mac OS X Lion tip: Log into other users in the background with Screen Sharing

In Mac OS X v. 10.7 (Lion) you can log into other users, with a full GUI, via Screen Sharing without disturbing the current user.

  1. Enable Screen Sharing and set a VNC password.
  2. Take note of your computer’s IP address.
  3. Fire up a VNC client on another machine.
  4. Connect to your computer’s IP address along with the password you set earlier.
  5. You will see the Mac OS X login screen that appears when you first start the computer. If you log into the currently active user you will be controlling the computer’s screen. If you select a different user, you will be logged into that user’s desktop in the background. It will not affect what what is seen on the physical computer screen.

A few interesting uses include:

  • Connect fom an iPad using an app such as Screens for a full desktop environment.
  • Connect from an older Mac or PC to run software that requires a current Mac OS version.
  • Remotely perform administration tasks that require a GUI without affecting the end user.
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Firefox / How To — 1 Comment
22
Jul 10

Firefox tip: Send mailto links to Google Apps webmail

Firefox lets you choose Gmail as your email service, but it doesn't work if you're using Google Apps on your own domain name. Here's how you can configure Firefox to send mailto: links directly to your Google Apps web email interface:

  1. In Firefox, open a new window (File menu, then New Window)
  2. In the address field, type about:config and press the Return or Enter key on your keyboard.
  3. You'll be warned that this "might void your warranty." Click the I'll be careful, I promise! button.

  4. You'll be presented with an intimidating list of settings. Ignore them and just type the word "register" into the Filter field.
  5. All you should see now is a line that says gecko.handlerService.allowRegisterFromDifferentHost. Assuming the rightmost Value column reads false (which it does by default) double-click it. The whole line should become bold and the Value column should say true instead. Keep this window open for the final step (minimize it or move it out of the way.)

  6. In the box below, delete YOUR_DOMAIN_HERE and type the name of the domain you have registered with Google Apps.
  7. Highlight all the text in the box below and Copy it.
  8. Open a new window in Firefox and Paste into the address bar.
  9. Press the Return or Enter key on your keyboard.
  10. A bar will appear at the top of the window, asking you to confirm that you want to add Google Apps as an application for mailto links. Go ahead and click the Add Application button.

  11. Open the Firefox settings window: On a Mac, go to the Firefox menu, then Preferences. On Windows, click the Tools menu, then Options.
  12. Click the Applications tab.
  13. In the Content Type column, locate the entry called mailto.
  14. Click the menu next to it and select Use Google Apps, then close the window.

  15. Go back to the Firefox window where you have the about:config page open.
  16. Double-click the line that says gecko.handlerService.allowRegisterFromDifferentHost and make sure its Value switches back to False. Close the window when finished.

You're all set! Now you should be able to click on email links in web pages and have them open a new message in your Google Apps email.

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